Publishing a PDF Book to Google Drive and iBooks Through Explain Everthing

iBooks Author for Publishing Student Photography Books

Today, was the culmination of hours of planning.  We introduced the students to iBook Author as they are going to create a chapter in our class photography book.

About two months ago, Mr. Sperduto and I, determined the digital workflow for students submitting photographs on a weekly basis through Google Drive.

Now that all of the six student pictures have been taken, students are creating an interactive book using iBooks Author.  Because this was our district's first attempt at using iBook Author, I created the iBooks Author template (can only be viewed on a Mac loaded with iBook Author) so that "image place holders" were used for "drag and drop" photo placement.
Watch how the learning environment took place...


We completed this learning activity because

• we wanted a medium for students to publish photographs outside of the classroom
• our Art Department received an iMac lab
• students used Photoshop on the Mac

I would like to thank the iBooks Author Google Community for the tremendous help and insight to get this idea off the foundation.  I would like to especially thank:

• Anthony DiLaura
• Julie Willcott
• Cyndi Danner-Kuhn
• Katie Morrow
• Steve Dickie
• Peter Pappas - tremendous resource (s)

I would also like to thank Mr. Sperduto for allowing this idea to develop into reality.  It was truly awesome co-teaching with him and to see students formulating a book with their photographs.

Photography iBooks Author Template

Photography Final Products Fall 2014 (File Must Be Downloaded)


Creativity: student photography and placement in their book

iTunes U & iBooks Content Introduction For The Classroom

iTunes U and iBooks have an enormous amount of K-12 information that can be utilized for all content in the classroom.  This content could be used as

• Investigative research material
• Supplemental information to support other resources
• Personalized learning plans for all or parts of concepts
• Station work for use in the classroom or in Personal Learning Areas
• Independent study for students

Teachers have used iTunes U content in many different ways.

To access the iTunes U content, download the iTunes program to your laptop if you haven't done so already.  This can be done be visiting the Software Center on your desktop.  It looks like this.

Once iTunes is installed, iTunes U content can be accessed.  You will need to agree to the terms of use.

After clicking agree you will be able to access the information.

To access all of this information on the iPad, the iTunes U app is needed,

iBooks app

The iBooks app provides SO many interactive learning opportunities.  Most of the books allow for a SAMPLE to view the first 20-30 pages of each book.  These books could be purchased as one book, placed on an iPad and shown through the AirServer app as a supplemental resource.

If you would like to have a book placed on the iPads, we can do that!  

***This is a Lunch N' Learn that can give you an idea of what these two resources can provide you.  Please consider attending so that the resources can be viewed.

Book Reports iPad Style

Hearing that "Book Reports" or "Book Reviews" from students to a class and or a teacher, provided inspiration for thinking about iPad apps that could be great support for a book review.

Reading books is still an important part of a student's learning process.  Use these seven options for students reviewing books.  Many of these options allow for students to produce a product to the camera roll.  Sharing it is as easy as sending it to the students' Google Drive.  See the presentation.


PixNTell Example


Doodle Cast Pro Example

iBooks Generator

This warranted an immediate blog post!

I am finally making my first iBook.  As you know, I am a huge "upload it to YouTube" person as it is a great place for actual video from our classroom to be stored.  With that being said, I would like many of our YouTube videos in our iBooks as interactive aspects.

Enter iBooks Generator!

Place any YouTube or Vimeo url into the generator and it creates a .zip file that can be downloaded.  This .zip file contains an iBooks Widget.  Simply drag it into the iBooks page you want, edit the text, and instantly you have a YouTube video as an interactive feature to your book!

View a video of how to create the widget.  Get the iBooks Generator!



Let the fun begin!